It's heartbreaking because as soon as something is repaired it's just a matter of time before it gets damaged again

Caroline Cockman

Insisting the problem has worsened since sat navs became popular, she said: "Drivers just can't see the one sign at the top of the lane

"Their sat navs direct them down the lane and they ignore the evidence of their own eyes that it's too narrow and just carry on until they get stuck.

"The worst incident happened a couple of years ago when a big lorry blew out my back wall - it cost £33,000 in repairs.

"There have been many other incidents - I can't remember them all.

"It must be well over £50,000 of damage in total.

"Sometimes I've come home and the damage has been done and the driver has gone and got away Scott free."

Mrs Cockman said she now relies on a neighbour who works from home and provides her with the driver details of most incidents when they happen.

"I've started claiming off my own insurance because it was so slow claiming third party from the driver's insurance - things would drag on and on because it was lower priority," she added.

"The trouble is some drivers still use domestic sat navs instead of commercial ones.

"I'm told the commercial ones do carry warnings about the lane's width but the domestic ones don't.

"There needs to be more prominent signage at the top of the lane.

"I've had visits from council representatives who are sympathetic and make all the right noises but nothing ever gets done.

"It's heartbreaking because as soon as something is repaired it's just a matter of time before it gets damaged again."

But a spokesman from the Highways Office at Somerset County Council insisted the warnings to drivers were adequate.

"There are already signs in place at this location and we recommend drivers pay attention to these," he said.

But Mrs Cockman insists more should be done, as she blasted drivers for their lack of common sense.

She added: "This is the third time in the last week. Last Monday we had a big sewage tanker, with an escort to make sure it travelled safely, and it took him half-an-hour to reverse out.

"Then on Wednesday night someone collided with our low wall which stops vehicles coming off the lane and into our courtyard. Now this guy was trapped for six hours. If only truck drivers used their common sense as the lane got narrower and narrower.